Best Film Director of the 00s

JP Liz

Christopher Nolan

Wes Anderson

Michel Gondry

Peter Jackson

Martin Scorsese

Ang Lee

Steven Soderbergh

Clint Eastwood

For me its between Eastwood and Nolan with Nolan taking it (i know he didnt make many films but the ones he did were masterpieces)

Raging Bob

Eastwood?? Ha.

Bizarre list. Where's people like Haneke etc?

JP Liz

Raging Bob wrote: »

Eastwood?? Ha.

Bizarre list. Where's people like Haneke etc?

they are really the only ones i could think of but please feel free to add more

Raging Bob

Michael Haneke, David Lynch, Gus Van Sant, Ken Loach, Coen Brothers, Werner Herzog, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Shane Meadows, David Cronenberg etc.

L31mr0d

Wes Anderson for me. Loved all of his films from the past decade.

ziedth

hard to look past Nolan IMO.

Raging Bob

Quite easy to look past him imo. I can pick 5 that'd I'd have ahead of him.

Decuc500

Close call between David Fincher, Michael Mann or Ridley Scott.

Otacon

Raging Bob wrote: »

Quite easy to look past him imo. I can pick 5 that'd I'd have ahead of him.

Wow, you are quite condescending.

Nolan gets it for me as I have thoroughly enjoyed all of his films.

Eastwood is second only because I didn't enjoy FooF and Invictus. Still a fantastic filmmaker.

indough

i can see this turning into another one of those threads where almost everybody throws out a list of artsy directors theyve been told they like and slams anything at all commercial

Raging Bob

Bit of a throwaway comment there indough. What are you on about?

ziedth

Raging Bob wrote: »

Quite easy to look past him imo. I can pick 5 that'd I'd have ahead of him.

See thats the beauty of discussion. Just to clarify IN MY OPINION i'm not at all a fan of arty films at all. If others like them so be it but enjoyed both batmans and the prestige allot this decade so thats why he gets my vote.

Raging Bob

I've named a wide range of directors, some that I'm not a big fan of, but was just listing them for others to see. Just showing how there's directors out there other than Nolan that are making far more entertaining and interesting films.

indough

Raging Bob wrote: »

Bit of a throwaway comment there indough. What are you on about?

its fairly clear what im on about

these discussions always end up descending into people throwing out lists of directors they think will make them sound in the know or more intelligent than those who can also appreciate mainstream films

perhaps people should provide reasons for their choices rather than just throwing around lists

henryporter

a list of artsy directors theyve been told they like and slams anything at all commercial

Funnily enough, when Guillermo del Toro did artsy they were good, and when he did commercial they were sh1t. Similar thing happed to Darren Aronofsky. Both Directors made good flicks during the 00's (but not necessarily their best work of course.0 Coen Brothers, Mike Leigh, The chap that did 'The Lives of Others'. Christopher Nolan let himself down a bit with 'The Prestige'

Raging Bob

Like I said, the list I gave was just a few more names. I didn't say whether I liked them or not, the only one I hinted at was Haneke.

And maybe these people are 'in the know'...

indough

and maybe not, i dont see the point in suggesting names if you dont know whether you like them or not, that was kinda my point, people just throw out the usual names theyve heard are good rather than what they actually like

anyway i dont want to descend into argument, people should explain their choices is all im saying

Raging Bob

Well of the names I've listed I've seen the majority of their films from 00s. It wouldn't make sense to list them otherwise...

indough

Raging Bob wrote: »

Well of the names I've listed I've seen the majority of their films from 00s. It wouldn't make sense to list them otherwise...

so you can explain why you think theyre the best then?

L31mr0d

indough wrote: »

i can see this turning into another one of those threads where almost everybody throws out a list of artsy directors theyve been told they like and slams anything at all commercial

Oh... I see what your angle is, you're the kind of hipster that's so hip, even the hipsters with their arty directors are too conformist for you. Good for you.

indough

yeah that would be it alright, nothing to do with actually admitting you like what you like and dont like what you dont like

ziedth

I love the money pit!!!!..... That is the answer to that question

L31mr0d

I like that movie too

magma69

(pretty much a cut a paste from another thread)
If I was force to choose one I would probably go to Darren Aronofsky. Requem for A Dream is one of the greatest movies of the decade (and all time). The Fountain, whilst not for everyone, was an amazingly crafted and visually astounding movie. The Wrestler is another awesome drama where you really become immersed in the story and characters. There are three completely different movies which shows just how versatile Aronofsky is. He is far from a one trick pony.

Honourable mentions:
Christopher Nolan
Clint Eastwood
Wes Anderson
David Lynch
Martin Scorcese
Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu
Richard Linklater
Paul Thomas Anderson

bonerm

PT Anderson. Only 2 films in the noughties but both were better than nearly everything produced in the past 10 years.

Hank_Jones

Can't believe nobody has mentioned him yet...

Chan-Wook Park FTW!!

I would say PT Anderson, but he has only made two films, so it's not as if he should really be in contention. If you're going to say Anderson, you might as well throw James Cameron in the mix...

As for Christopher Nolan....I'd rather not discuss him...

Karl Hungus

Raging Bob wrote: »

Eastwood?? Ha.

Eastwood started off the decade fairly poorly, but between Mystic River, Letters From Iwo Jima, Changeling and Gran Torino, he's directed his fair share of great films in the 00's and certainly doesn't deserve a "Ha" in my opinion.

indough wrote: »

yeah that would be it alright, nothing to do with actually admitting you like what you like and dont like what you dont like

Unless it's some "Artsy" type liking some "Artsy" director, in which case they're only saying they like it because been told to like it, or some such non-sequitur. God forbid someone might suggest a non-mainstream director because that's what they genuinely enjoy.

Handsome Bob

There's no best with me, I wouldn't make that kind of claim when people know more than me or have different tastes, all I can give is a list of directors whose work I've found enjoyable over the last decade;

1. Clint Eastwood
2. Christopher Nolan
3. Danny Boyle
4. Martin Scorcese
5. Coen Brothers

johnny_ultimate

Karl Hungus wrote: »

Unless it's some "Artsy" type liking some "Artsy" director, in which case they're only saying they like it because been told to like it, or some such non-sequitur. God forbid someone might suggest a non-mainstream director because that's what they genuinely enjoy.

Well said. This problem is also rearing its head in the Avatar thread, where it is actually taking away from the otherwise excellent discussion from the two camps. Some people genuinely enjoy more offbeat, "artsy" films, and I think you'll find a hell of a lot of them enjoy mainstream cinema too. Cinema is an extremely rich film, and I think it is very sad when people's opinions are shot down because they're too 'alternative' or too 'mainstream'. That clearly isn't the way the vast majority of film fans think.

I enjoy Christopher Nolan films. I enjoy Ingmar Bergman films. I enjoy Judd Apatow films (well, not Funny People!). I enjoy Lars Von Trier films. So I wish people would stop derailing discussion with absurd generalisations, and just discuss the topic at hand. I don't want someone popping into a thread about a specific film and disrupting genuine debate with comments that everyone criticising / praising it is either too mainstream or too artsy. God forbid someone didn't actually like something about a film someone else did!

Sorry for derailing this thread (ironic!) but I don't think there will ever be sensible discussion with that kind of attitude.

And on the topic at hand - one thing I'd consider about Clint Eastwood is that his films never felt like they were made in 00s. That isn't a bad thing mind, but I always thought the themes and concerns were addressing an older generation than those of us who were growing up with cinema in the 2000s. While many other directors were always pushing forward with contemporary concerns, Eastwood always seemed like a director who had clearly grown up in a singificantly different era! (again, not saying if this is a good or bad thing, although I personally haven't been a big fan of his recent output)

krudler

Raging Bob wrote: »

Michael Haneke, David Lynch, Gus Van Sant, Ken Loach, Coen Brothers, Werner Herzog, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Shane Meadows, David Cronenberg etc.

Gus Van Sant? whats he made of any worth since Good Will Hunting? Elephant, Gerry, Last Days and Milk were all self indulgent tripe, Milk was just a oscar grabbing attempt, Penn already went full retard and failed so needed another minority role to bag a statue, gay rights campaigner? that'll do it!

I'd have:

The Coens
PT Anderson
David Fincher
Christopher Nolan

How come nobodys mentioned Steven Spielberg? With A.I, Minority Report, Catch Me If You Can and Munich had four great movies this decade, War of the Worlds was a great popcorn movie until the horrible ending

Raging Bob

You slate Elephant but then say A.I. was a great movie?

I just threw out van Sant's name. I really enjoyed Elephant but felt the opposite during Milk so I'll agree with you there.

As for Eastwood, Mystic River was good but not great. Gran Torino was okay. Changeling was a total borefest with characters going around in circles for two hours. Letters From Iwo Jima was one of the weaker war movies of the decade. I didn't see Flags as a result of this film. And Invictus is the worst out of all of them.

krudler

A.I was a great movie, and can people please not harp on about the "Spielberg sugary ending" the ending was Kubricks idea not Spielbergs, and its not sugary sweet either, its actually quite downbeat in the context of the movie

Raging Bob

Not going to talk about that movie at all tbh as it was pants.

Yeah, PT Anderson would be up there. One of the best around at the moment. There Will Be Blood was one of the finest movies of the decade. Looking forward to his next installment.

krudler

Not going to talk about that movie at all tbh as it was pants

If Kubrick had directed it and it as the exact same you'd be guaranteed it would be hailed as one of the best sci-fi movies of the decade

Raging Bob

Dunno, ain't the biggest Kubrick fan (and yes I realise the whole TWBB thing). Favourite Kubrick film would be The Killing although that was let down by a piss poor ending.

transylman

No Paul Greengrass?

Bloody Sunday
Bourne Supremacy
United 93
Bourne Ultimatum

fluke

Chris Nolan is in danger of getting a backlash (a similar backlash to The Dark Knight) for being the best this, the top that, but I quite like his movies.

Best Director of the 00's? bit of a subjective one that...but himself above impressed me along with Jason Reitman, Tarantino and Michael Moore.

Snake Plisken

David Fincher & Christopher Nolan share the top spot for me both have been at the top of their game for the decade

PT Anderson really overrated director he wouldn't make my top ten

Raging Bob

Hardly. Boogie Nights, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood, Punch Drunk Love. The guy is brilliant. Even people that don't particularly like his films realise he's got talent. The Coen Brothers, for me, don't always make movies that I like. But I can see that they're extremely talented and wouldn't argue with people that have them near the top of their lists. Blood Simple is still my favourite from their catalog.

youcancallmeal

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